Shoe sewing machine



March 13, 1934. E, AM 1,951,179

SHOE SEWING MACHINE Original Filed March 27, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fly. 2 34 46 213 2 W- Wz'ines; 6% M1 110 011111270110 7 Fig, 5 m wZ JW March 13, 1934. E. TOPHAM SHOE SEWING MACHINE Original Filed March 27, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wiinex n 0 U 0 T & a h C March 13, 1934. TOPHAM SHOE SEWING MACHINE Original Filed March 27, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 jnvenifior W a? w/w z m @r.

T/V'iiness Chas. T 0 ZSOTL Patented Mar. 13, 1934 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOE SEWING MACHINE Original application March 27, 1928, Serial No. Divided and this application ()ctober 25, 1932. Serial No. 639,460

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to shoe sewing machines and is herein disclosed as embodiedin a machine adapted to sew the outseam connecting the outsole with the welt, lasted upper and insole of a Goodyear welt shoe.

The present application is a division of the inventors pending application Serial No. 265,169, filed March 27, 1928, which discloses a machine of the same general type as that disclosed in the patent to French and Meyer No". 473,870, dated April 26, 1892. The stitch-forming and workfeeding devices include a needle, an awl, a work support and a presser foot arranged to reciprocate back and forth in the line of feed to impart a continuous feeding movement to the work, and the presser foot is operated to clamp and release the work on the work support by a pawl engaging ratchet teeth on an arm yieldingly connected to the presser foot. The presser foot is locked in engagement with the work by a second pawl engaging teeth on the lever which carries the presser foot, as more fully described in the inventors pending application above referred to.

In the machine embodying the present invention, a stop mechanism is provided which, when thrown into operation, acts to stop the sewing cam shaft of the machine at a point in the cycle of operations at which the awl is about to enter the work. In this position of the cam shaft ordinarily the presser foot is locked in clamping engagement with the work by pawls or the equivalent so as to prevent manipulation of the presser foot to release the work. The object of the present invention is to provide in a sewing machine of this type, an arrangement which will permit positive release of the devices for actuating the presser foot and secure them in locked inoperative position either automatically or manually regardless of the position in which the machine is brought to rest, and accordingly one of the features of the invention contemplates the provision in an outsole lockstitch sewing machine of an improved construction and arrangement of parts for unlocking and lifting the presser foot when the machine stops.

Other features of the invention consist in the improved constructions, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The several features of the present invention, and theadvantages secured thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art from the preceding discussion and from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and the following specific description thereof.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 is a sectional end elevation of a machine embodying the several features of-the present invention;-Fig. 2 is a detail sectional View ofa portion ofthe presser foot unlocking and lifting mechanism of the machine; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan viewtaken on the line 33 of Fig. 2; Fig. 1 is a detail sectional view similar to Fig.2, but showing the parts in a different position; Fig. 5 is a sectional plan View 7 7 taken partly on the line 5-5 and partly on the line 5-6 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View illustrating the presser foot locking and lifting mechanisms and their associated parts; Fig. -'7 is an end view of the machine partly in section and with many parts omitted; Fig.8 is a vertical sec- 7 tional view of the machine illustrating particularly the driving and stopping mechanisms; Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view taken on a plane in front of that of Fig. 8, illustrating a portion 7 of themechanism shownin that figure; and Fig. 10 is a detail view of certain parts illustrated in Fig. 8, but looking in the opposite direction.

The stitch forming devices of the machine are arranged in the usual manner, and the loop 7 spreader is indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings at so 10, the shuttle at 12, the work support at 14 and the presser foot at 16, all of the stitch forming devices except as hereinafter specifically described having substantially the same construction and arrangement, and being operated through the same mechanisms as in the machine disclosed in the-patent to French and Meyer No. 473,870'hereinbefore referred to. These parts, together with the actuating mechanisms, are fully described I and illustrated in the inventors pending application above referred to.

The presser foot 16, asshown in Fig. l is secured to the front portion 18 of the presser foot lever which is pivotally mounted upon a hollow bushing 20 secured in a portion of the machine frame 21. As'more fully described in the inventors pending application above referredto, the presser foot is arranged to reciprocate back and forth in the line of feed with the work sup- I A port and to allow it to so move, the presser foot lever is made in two parts, the rear portion 22 being mounted on the bushing 20 so as to be held against movement, while the front portion 18 is adapted for movement back and forth in the line of feed.

The mechanism for actuating the presserfoot lever and for locking the lever with the presser foot in engagement with the work is similar to that disclosed in the patent to French and Meyer hereinbefore referred to and comprises actuating and locking pawls 24 and 26 engaging respectively the actuating lever 28 (see Fig. l) and the rear portion of the presser foot lever 22.

According to the present invention, an efficient and novel mechanism is provided for unlocking and lifting the presser foot manually, and also for unlocking and lifting the presser foot automatically upon stopping the machine. The mechanism for unlocking and lifting the presser foot comprises a lifting lever 30 (see Figs. 6 and 7) pivotally mounted upon a portion of the machine frame and having its forward end extending into convenient position to be manipulated by the operator while its rear end extends over the harp-shaped member 32 pivotally supported upon the rear end of the presser foot lever 22 and forming a part of the usual thread measuring mechanism. With this arrangement of the lever 30, a downward movement of its rear end depresses the rear end of the lever 22 after the pawls 24 and 26 have been moved out of engagement with their cooperating ratchets and lifts the presser foot from the work.

In order to move the pawls 24 and 26 into inoperative position so as to allow the presser foot to be lifted, a pawl disengaging member 34 is provided mounted to slide in a substantially horizontal direction and provided with arms at its rear end adapted to engage pins on the pawls and move the pawls to an inoperative position when a rear movement is imparted to the member 34. At its forward end the member 34' is mounted in a slot formed in a web 36 forming a part of the machine frame. On each side of the web 36 the member 34 provided with projecting flanges 38, which flanges limit the movement of the member 34 in each direction, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5. For moving the member 34 forwardly and backwardly, an actuating member 40 is provided pivotally mounted upon the bushing 20.

An actuating connection between the member 40 and the member 34 is formed by a segmental portion of the member 40 which extends through the slot in the web 36 at one side of the member 34. A ball 42 is seated in a perforation in the member 34, which ball cooperates with a recess 44 formed in the member 40 and with a recess 46 formed in one wall of the web 36. The member 40 is actuated from the lifting lever 30 through a pin 48 projecting from the member 40 through a slot 49 in a flange projecting from the hub of the lifting lever. The construction and arrangement of the connections between the lifting lever 30 and the pawl releasing member 34 are such that during the first portion of the downward movement of the rear end of the lever 30, the member 40 is moved from the position indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 to a position in which the ball 42 is in engagement with the recess 46 in the web 36. The member 34 is thus moved to release the pawls 24 and 26 from their ratchets before the rear end of the lever 30 comes in contact with the harp-shaped member 32. As the ball 42 entore the recess 46, further movement of the member 34 is prevented by the engagement of the flange 38 with the web 36 and a continued movement of the member 40 is permitted during the continued movement of the lifting lever 36 in lifting the presser foot from the work. The final position of the parts when the presser foot has been lifted from the work is indicated in Figs. 4 and 5. The return movement of the lifting lever 30 to permit the presser foot to again engage the work first moves the member 40 from the position indicated in Figs. 5 and 6 while the member 34 remains stationary and finally after the recess 44 in the member 40 comes opposite the recess 46, the ball 42 enters recess 44 and the forward end of the member 46 engages a flange 50 on the forward end of the member 34 and returns the member 34 to its original position indicated in Figs. 2 and 3.

To unlock and lift the presser foot automatically upon stopping the machine, a vertically arranged rod 51 is provided as indicated in Fig. 7, which extends through a perforation in the rear end of the lever 36. This rod is depressed upon stopping the machine through connections from the stopping mechanism hereinafter described, and when so depressed actuates the lifting lever 30 to unlock and lift the presser foot by the engagement of a collar 52 secured to the lower end of the rod above the rear end of the lever 30.

The driving and stopping mechanism of the machine comprises a forwardly driving friction clutch which normally drives the machine at a high speed during the sewing operation, a reversely driving friction clutch which is thrown into operation in stopping the machine which retards, stops and reversely rotates thecam shaft at a low speed to final stopping position, and mechanism for throwing the reversely driving friction clutch into and out of operation.

The high speed forwardly driving friction clutch comprises a clutch surface on a driving pulley rotating loosely on the sewing cam shaft 54 and a cooperating friction surface on the hand wheel 56. The hand wheel is rigidly secured to a sleeve keyed to the cam shaft 54 of the machine. The driving pulley is moved into and out of engagement with the hand wheel 56 by a clutch shifting lever 57, one end of which engages the hub of the driving pulley, and the other end of which extends between collars 58 secured to a rod 60 connected to the starting and stopping treadle.

The reversely driving clutch which is thrown into operation in stopping the machine is driven by a belt passing over a pulley 62 secured to the rear end of a shaft connected to a low speed driving gear: The driven clutch member of the reverse driving clutch is connected to the hand wheel 56 so as to rotate at all times with the hand wheel and with the cam shaft 54 and is normally held out of engagement with the driving clutch member of the reverse driving clutch. The reversing clutch operates when the treadle is released and acts first as a friction brake to retard and stop the forward rotation of the cam shaft 54 and then drives the cam shaft backwardly until the clutch members are thrown out by the action of a vibrating portion shown and described in applicants application above referred to, engaging a locking pin on a lock bolt 64 which is projected into its path. After the reverse driving clutch is thrown out, tively stopped in its fnal position by a stop dog 66 (see Fig. 9) which engages a stop shoulder formed on one of the cam discs 63 of the machine.

The locking pin or look bolt 64 is mounted in a horizontally arranged spring pressed carrier '76 and is controlled from the treadle rod 60 through connections which comprise an arm '72 (see Figs. 8 and 10) pivotally mounted on the machine frame and connected to the upper end of the treadle rod. At its outer end the arm 72 is provided with a cam surface arranged when the treadle rod is depressed to engage a roll 74 on a lever arm 76 and swing said lever arm downwardly. A lever arm 78 is formed integrally with the arm 76 and is connected by a link 80 to the the cam shaft is posilower end of the lock bolt 64. The lock bolt is acted upon by a spring 82 which raises the bolt into engagement with the vibrating portion of the driving and stopping mechanism when the treadle rod is allowed to rise and the bolt is lowered through the connections described when the rod is depressed.

In throwing the reverse driving clutch into operation a slight movement to the right, as viewed in Fig. 8, is imparted to the lock bolt carrier 70. In the machine illustrated, this movement of the lock bolt carrier is utilized to lift the presser loot and perform other operations. To this end a rock shaft 84 is mounted in the carrier and is provided at one end with a spring pressed pawl 86 arranged to be engaged by a detent 88 on the arm 72 when the arm is in its uppermost position. To the other end of the rock shaft 84 an arm 90 is secured, which arm is swung upwardly by the rocking of the shaft 84 when the pawl 86 engages the detent 88 during the movement of the lock bolt carrier '70 as the reverse clutch is thrown into operation. The arm 90 at its outer end is pivotally connected to the lower end of a link 92, the upper end of which is connected to a lever arm 94 projecting from a rock shaft 96 mounted in the upper portion of the machine frame 21. An arm 98 projecting from the rock shaft 96 is connected to the upper end of the rod 51 and the arrangement of the lever arms 98 and 94 is such that as the arm 90 moves upwardly, the rod 51 is depressed, thereby unlocking and raising the presser foot as hereinbefore described.

The stop dog 66 (see Figs. 9 and 10) is secured to a pivot shaft 100 and is forced towards the cam disc 68 by a spring 102 one end of which is connected to a link 104 and the other end of which is connected to an arm 106 secured to the rock shaft 100. The outer end of the arm 106 engages beneath a shoulder 108 on the link 104 and by reason of this construction the stop dog 66 is held out of engagement with the cam disc 68 while the machine is in operation and is permitted to move into. engagement with the disc as the link 104 rises during the operation of the stopping mechanism, as described in more detail in the co-pending application of the present applicant.

The nature and scope of the invention having been indicated, and a specific embodiment of the several features of the invention having been described, what is claimed is:

1. A lockstitch sewing machine having, in combination, stitch-forming devices, a work support, a presser foot, a presser foot lever, mechanism for actuating and locking the presser foot lever during operation of the machine, a releasing member for unlocking the presser foot, a presser foot lifting lever, a lost motion connection between the presser foot lever and the lifting lever, and a connection between the lifting lever and the releasing member comprising a clutch device operating to move the releasing member to releasing position during that portion of movement of the lifting lever in which the presser foot lever is not actuated and to thereafter lock the releasing member in releasing position while the presser foot lever is being actuated to raise the presser foot.

2. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices, a work support, a presser foot, a presser foot lever, mechanism for actuating and locking the presser foot lever including a locking pawl and a ratchet on the lever engaged by the pawl, a pawl releasing member, a presser foot lifting lever, and connections between the lifting lever and the pawl releasing member for actuating the releasing member, said connections including clutch devices for actuating the releasing member and thereafter permitting a continued independent movement of the lifting lever to lift the presser foot.

3. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices, a work support, a presser foot, a presser foot lever, mechanism for actuating and locking the presser foot lever including a locking pawl and a ratchet on the lever engaged by the pawl, a pawl releasing member, a presser foot lifting lever, a member for actuating the pawl releasing member, connections between the lifting lever and the actuating member, and connections between the actuating member and the pawl releasing member comprising clutch devices arranged to permit a continued independent movement of the lifting lever and actuating member to lift the presser foot after the pawl has been lifted from the ratchet.

4. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices, a work support, a presser foot, a presser foot lever, mechanism for actuating and locking the presser foot lever, including a locking pawl and a ratchet on the lever engaged by the pawl, a pawl releasing member, a presser foot lifting lever, connections between the lifting lever and the pawl releasing member for actuating the releasing member, said connections including clutch devices for actuating the releasing member, and thereafter permitting a continued independent movement of the lifting lever to lift the presser foot, a stop mechanism acting, when thrown into operation, to stop the machine at a point in the stitch forming cycle where the pawl normally engages the ratchet, and means acting on stopping the machine to actuate the lifting lever to unlock and lift the presser foot.

5. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices, a work support, a presser foot, a presser foot lever, mechanism for actuating and locking the presser foot lever including a locking pawl and a ratchet on the lever engaged by the pawl, a pawl releasing member, a presser foot lifting lever arranged to move idly and thereafter to lift the presser foot, and connections between the lifting lever and the pawl releasing member for actuating the releasing member during idle movement of the presser foot lifting lever to an inoperative position, said connections including clutch devices for actuating the releasing member to release said pawl and to lock said releasing member in releasing position.

6. A lockstitch sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices, a work support, a presser foot, a presser foot lever, mechanism for actuating and locking the presser foot lever during operation of the machine including a looking pawl and a ratchet on the lever engaged by the pawl, a pawl releasing member, a resser foot lifting lever, a lost motion connection between the presser foot lever and the lifting lever, and a connection between the lifting lever and the pawl releasing member comprising a clutch device operating to move the releasing member to releasing position during that portion of movement of the lifting lever in which the presser foot lever is not actuated and to thereafter lock the releasing member in releasing position while the presser foot lever is being actuated to raise the presser foot.

'7. A lockstitch sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices, a work support,

a presser foot, a presser foot lever, a pivoted arm, a spring for yieldingly actuating the presser foot lever as the arm is moved, locking pawls, ratchets on the arm and the presser foot lever engaged by the pawls, a pawl releasing member, a presser foot lifting lever, and connections between the lifting lever and the pawl releasing member for actuating the releasing member, said connections including clutch devices for actuating the re1easing member to disengage the pawls from the ratchets and. lock them in disengaged positions.

8. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming devices, a work support, a presser foot, a presser foot lever, mechanism for actuating and locking the presser foot lever during operation of the machine including a locking pawl and a ratchet on the lever engaged by the pawl, a pawl releasing member having stops for limiting its movement, a presser foot lifting lever and connections between the lifting lever and the pawl releasing member including a bail slidingly arranged in a perforation in the releasing member for selective engagement with indentations in the lifting lever and in a stationary part to actuate the pawl releasing member by movement of the lifting member or to lock said member to said stationary part respectively.

LAURENCE E. TOPI-IAM. 

